University of Houston fosters workforce investment

University of Houston fosters workforce investment

Cougar Corporate Partners, a new University of Houston giving program, lets companies invest directly in programs that will have an immediate impact on students who make up the future workforce.

Half of each donation is funneled into scholarships, the first $5,000 of which are being awarded in August. The other half of the donation is split between the M.D. Anderson Library and the University Career Services Center.

So far, CenterPoint Energy, Data Foundry, Marathon Oil and Total have signed on for annual participation of $10,000, $30,000, $50,000 or $100,000. In return, the corporations can present to student groups, obtain preferred locations at internship and career fairs, and attend other university events.

About 80 percent of the institution’s graduates remain in the greater Houston region.